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Elizabeth Cutter-Lin casts her ballot while holding on to her six month-old daughter, Elodie Lin, while her husband Edgar Lin looks on at South Shore terrace, 2900 S. Shore Drive in Milwaukee. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Judge Brian Hagedorn and Christina Hagedorn cast their votes in the 2019 Spring election in the village of Summit.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court race is a judicial showdown between two state Appeals Court judges, Lisa Neubauer and Brian Hagedorn. Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Lisa Neubauer, candidate for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, votes Tuesday, at the Dr. John Bryant Community Center in Racine. At left is poll worker Ricky Martin. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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Shorewood School District voters approved a two-question referendum April 2 that will address $65 million in capital improvements and $275,000 to pay for the capital improvements' operating expenses and annual maintenance.

Unofficial results show the first question passed 3,025 (61%) to 1,961 (39%), while the second question passed 3,288 (66%) to 1,666 (34%).

“We are grateful to the Shorewood community members for their strong support of our schools,” said Paru Shah, Shorewood School Board president, in an email to North Shore Now. “We are excited to move forward with these much needed improvements to our historic facilities, and look forward to continuing to engage our community in this process.”

“We would like to thank all of the Shorewood residents who took the time to attend our community workshops and our referendum information sessions,” said Shorewood Schools Superintendent Bryan Davis, also in an email to North Shore Now. “Community participation has been so important in this process. Our team is looking forward to proceeding with the next steps for these improvement projects at our schools.”

The first referendum question will cover $65 million in capital projects in all district schools. Safety, security, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, building systems and infrastructure upgrades will be done at all schools. Lake Bluff and Atwater Elementary Schools will see learning space renovations. Shorewood High School will receive a small expansion to its main academic building.

The second question will cover $275,000 per year for maintenance costs in all district schools starting in the 2019-20 school year. The funds will cover the maintenance of the $65 million in capital projects and ongoing annual costs. These annual costs include roof work, HVAC and asphalt and masonry work at all district schools.

The referendum's tax impact is 31 cents per $1,000 of fair market value for both questions. A homeowner with a $300,000 property would pay $93 more annually in school taxes over the current district tax rate.

A community survey conducted ahead of the vote showed 69 percent of the 1,294 responses from residents supported the $275,000 operating referendum question while 58 percent said they would support the $65 million in capital projects question.

Reasoning

The referendum process started in February 2016 with a three-day community summit attended by more than 100 community members. One of the top five priorities that attendees identified was modernizing and maintaining the district's historic schools, of which three of the four district schools are over 90 years old. The district then started facilities planning to identify improvements to all four schools.

According to the district, the plan "impacts all students and all schools in the district; demonstrates fiscally responsible stewardship of our historic buildings; provides safe, accessible and energy-efficient learning spaces and provides a community-driven solution to current and future needs."

Resident perspectives

Sarah McEnearney, a resident with two children who graduated from the district, said she voted for the referendum. McEnearney said she was part of the community summit in February 2016 that identified the facilities planning as a need.

McEnearney said that passing the referendum is important because having strong schools means strong real estate values and past budgets were unable to handle past facilities needs.

"I vote yes because we have 2,100 kids in the district. We want to keep enrollment high. Education is competitive, and we want people to continue to move to Shorewood for the schools," McEnearney said.

Nate Cade, a Shorewood resident and attorney who used to serve on the Shorewood School Board's former finance committee, said he voted no. He said he was concerned about the size of the referendum.

Cade said he also was concerned about the amount of debt that would be incurred if the referendum would be passed in case other issues come up in the future.

"No one is disputing that work needs to happen on buildings, that there are maintenance issues. The problem becomes is they have not identified how those dollars are to be spent. We have not identified as a community what we believe to be the priorities," Cade said.

Project timeline

According to a news release from the district, design work will begin immediately and the projects will be competitively bid in early 2020. Construction work will begin in spring 2020 with anticipated completion by summer 2023.

The district will work with construction manager Miron Construction Co. Inc. and architect Eppstein Uhen Architects in the coming weeks to begin moving forward on project planning. All projects throughout the construction process will be competitively bid.

The district also said in a news release it is committed to continuing transparent communication throughout the entire facilities improvement process, and will engage the community and staff as the design phase moves forward. Design and construction updates can be found at www.shorewoodschools.org/facilities/ (include the forward slash at the end of the link).

Shorewood Schools referendum

Question 1 (capital projects)

✔Yes 3,025

No 1,961

Question 2 (operating expenses)

✔Yes 3,288

No 1,666

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Three Lions Pub employees Blake Gillespie (left) and Mariah Downs pose for a photo during the Shorewood Shenanigans street festival on Saturday, March 16, 2019. The annual event features live music, food and drink, games, vendors and more. Nine bars and restaurants along N. Oakland Ave. participate in the fun. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Seven-year-old Nora Booth of Nashotah sits for a face painting by artist Leea Woolard of Life's a Party - Face Painting, during Lake Country Community Fest at Arrowhead High School in Hartland on Saturday, March 23, 2019. The event featured 140 exhibitor booths, a food court, live demonstrations, children's activities, entertainment, healthcare clinics and more. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Five-year-old Grace Magnuson of Whitefish Bay practices her long game at Lincoln Park Golf Course in Glendale on Saturday, March 23, 2019. Warm sunny weather lured many enthusiasts outside to enjoy the game. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Wisconsin Lutheran's Trinity Moore competes in the long jump at the Peter Rempe Cardinal Relays hosted by Waukesha South on Thursday, March 21, 2019. Moore won the event with a jump of 17-01.50. Scott Ash/Now News Group

South Milwaukee's Kaylee Patnode competes in the long jump at the Peter Rempe Cardinal Relays hosted by Waukesha South on Thursday, March 21, 2019. Patnode placed second in the event with a jump of 16-08.50. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Franklin's Janel Sweet competes in the pole vault at the Peter Rempe Cardinal Relays hosted by Waukesha South on Thursday, March 21, 2019. Sweet won the event with a vault of 10-00.00. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Brookfield Central's David Joplin drives to the basket against Sun Prairie's Brock Voigt during the Division 1 championship game at the WIAA boys basketball state tournament in Madison on Saturday, March 16, 2019. Rick Wood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Martin Luther coach Paul Wollersheim holds up the Division 3 championship trophy while surrounded by a jubilant group of Spartans on Saturday at the Kohl Center in Madison. Rick Wood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Dancers from Milwaukee's Dance Academy of Mexico perform for spectators during the Indian Summer Festival's 28th annual Winter Pow Wow at Wisconsin State Fair Park on Sunday, March 10, 2019. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Three-year-old Nora Masters of Brookfield pets a cat from HAWS during the Adopt a Pet program at Russ Darrow Kia of Wauwatosa on Saturday, March 9, 2019. The event, held in partnership with the Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) in Waukesha and the German Shepard Dogs Club of Wisconsin (GSDCW), offered attendees the opportunity to meet and adopt dogs, cats, rabbits, and other types of animals. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Martin Luther forward Xzavier Jones (left) attempts to go up for a dunk while defended by Racine St. Catherine's guard Tyrese Hunter during a WIAA sectional semifinal on March 7, 2019. Curt Hogg / Now News Group

Karen Beine and her daughter Alyssa Kurth of Dousman offer gently used wedding items from their booth at The Original Bridal-Wedding Decor Re-Sale hosted by Rustic Manor 1848 at the Waukesha County Expo Center on Sunday, March 10, 2019. The annual event features gently used wedding decor, dresses, attire and other wedding related items at a significant discount. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Brookfield Elementary fourth grader, Jacob Brunner, portrays Mike Teavee in a scene from Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Jr. during rehearsal at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield on Saturday, March 2, 2019. Public performances are at 7 p.m. on March 2 and 2 p.m. on March 3. Scott Ash/Now News Group

The "Tosa Log Cabin" rolls down N. Wauwatosa Ave. on its journey to 6404 W. North Ave. on Wednesday evening, March 13, 2019. The cabin is being moved to make way for a three-story apartment complex called the Gallatin Apartments. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Campers fill the parking lot of Pewaukee's new Chick-fil-A location at 1454 Capitol Drive on Wednesday, March 13, ahead of Thursday's grand opening. Chick-fil-A is holding The First 100 Camp Out contest which offers a year's worth of free Chick-fil-A to the first 100 participants. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Crews work to demolish the old Waukesha County intake court building on Monday, March 11, 2019. The 52,000-square-foot building at 515 W. Moreland Blvd. is being removed to make way for construction of a new 62,000-square-foot secure courtroom addition. Scott Ash/Now News Group

A spectator records a performance by Milwaukee's Dance Academy of Mexico youth group during the Indian Summer Festival's 28th annual Winter Pow Wow at Wisconsin State Fair Park on Sunday, March 10, 2019. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Julianna Datka (left), 7, of Lisbon visits with the Anna (center), 8, and Kaitlin Hackbarth, 12, and their one-week-old baby goats during the Winter Farmers Market at the Sussex Civic Center on Sunday, March 10, 2019. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Sophomore Breck Golden entertains attendees during the 7th annual Art in the Burg art fair at Cedarburg High School (CHS) on Saturday, March 9, 2019. The event, sponsored by the CHS Fine Arts Boosters and Art Department, features 75 artists from the midwest exhibiting and selling original work in many artistic disciplines. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Ashley Lemay of Milwaukee pets Grizz, a purebred German Shepherd owned by Dennis Kratz of Grafton, during the Adopt a Pet program at Russ Darrow Kia of Wauwatosa on Saturday, March 9, 2019. The event, held in partnership with the Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) in Waukesha and the German Shepard Dogs Club of Wisconsin (GSDCW), offered attendees the opportunity to meet and adopt dogs, cats, rabbits, and other types of animals. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Two-year-old Emma Cina of Mayville chooses a candy prize during the Winter Carnival at St. Matthew's Lutheran School in Oconomowoc on Saturday, March 9, 2019. The event featured a huge prize booth, games, food, a silent auction and more. Proceeds from the Winter Carnival will be used to purchase non budgeted school items. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Martin Luther forward Shaun Harrison reacts as he draws contact from a Racine St. Catherine's defender while going up for a shot during a WIAA sectional semifinal on March 7, 2019. Curt Hogg / Now News Group

Brookfield Elementary students, Aidan Riddle (left) and Michael Foster, portray Willy Wonka and Charlie Bucket in a scene from Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Jr. during rehearsal at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield on Saturday, March 2, 2019. Public performances are at 7 p.m. on March 2 and 2 p.m. on March 3. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Brookfield Elementary fourth graders, Jacob Brunner and Meghan Roskopf (center right), portray Mike Teavee and Veruca Salt in a scene from Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Jr. during rehearsal at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield on Saturday, March 2, 2019. Public performances are at 7 p.m. on March 2 and 2 p.m. on March 3. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Patrick Detmer and his daughter Hailey, 3, of Waukesha play a game at Martha Merrell's Books & Toys during the Birthday Bash Downtown Waukesha Art Crawl on Saturday, March 2, 2019. The event celebrated the birthday of Dr. Seuss with a special birthday party complete with cake, coloring pages and more at Martha Merrell's Books. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Elena May, 11, of West Allis tries a free sample of soup during the 8th annual Empty Bowls event at the LaFollette Park Pavilion in West Allis on Saturday, March 2, 2019. The goal of the event, hosted by the Friends of LaFollette Park, is to collect food and raise funds for West Allis food pantries. Local restaurants, including Senor Sol, Urban Joe Cafe, Filippo's Italian Restaurant, Pallas Restaurant, and West Allis Cheese and Sausage Shop donate the delicious soups offered at the event. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Mukwonago senior guard Grace Beyer smiles as she heads back on defense while her team's bench celebrates after hitting her fourth three-pointer in the early minutes of a WIAA sectional final against Milwaukee King on March 2, 2019. Curt Hogg / Now News Group